J Rheum Dis.  2016 Jun;23(3):193-197. 10.4078/jrd.2016.23.3.193.

Successful Treatment of Newly Developed, Intractable Digital Ulcers and Gangrene with Bosentan in Systemic Sclerosis

Affiliations
  • 1Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea. gtah@hanmail.net
  • 2Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
  • 3Department of Rheumatology, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.

Abstract

In systemic sclerosis, digital ulcers and gangrene are somewhat common clinical characteristics of obliterative vasculopathy. These manifestations increase morbidities, such as pain, infections, and acroosteolysis. However, patient responses to the appropriate treatments are often inadequate. We treated a patient with systemic sclerosis who had a refractory digital ulcer and gangrene with bosentan, an endothelin receptor antagonist, and observed improvement. Here we systematically review this case.

Keyword

Bosentan; Systemic scleroderma; Gangrene

MeSH Terms

Acro-Osteolysis
Gangrene*
Humans
Receptors, Endothelin
Scleroderma, Systemic*
Ulcer*
Receptors, Endothelin

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